Talks are going on now for last so many years about much-needed merger of public-sector banks to further reuce their number from present 21. Central government and Reserve Bank of India should now act urgently to implement the plan for smooth banking and to reduce big overheads in continuing with so many banks. Perhaps nowhere in the world, there may be public-sector banks in such a large number.

Mega-merger plan will pave way for closing of nearing bank-branches, thus making work-force available without any spending on further recruitment apart from introducing seven-day-week banking which has become a necessity after demonetization. Bank-employees can be given two holidays per week by rotation to compensate for banks being opened on holidays. It may be recalled that banking was smooth even on a day of Holi in Delhi when banks kept open on the festival of colours due to some confusion regarding holiday on the Holi-day. Same system should be there for post-office employees.

SRINAGAR, Aug 8: The cross-LoC trade on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road resumed today, more than two weeks after it was suspended following recovery of heroin and brown sugar from a truck coming from Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
Ahead of the resumption, authorities sealed the Customs Department office at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre at Uri on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route after the staff posted there “absconded” from duty, officials said.
“We sealed the Customs’ office for security reas